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Sphynx
Grey Sphynx
Information
Origin

Canada

Cat (Felis catus)
List of Cat Breeds



The Sphynx (also known as Canadian Hairless) is a rare breed of cat known for its lack of a coat.

Characteristics[]

Sphynxes have very short hair. The skin should have the texture of Chamois leather. It may be covered with very soft hair that is often described as peach fuzz. Since sphynx cats have no hair to keep them warm, they prefer to cuddle up against other animals and people. Lack of coat makes the cat quite warm to the touch. Whiskers and eyebrows may be present, either whole or broken, or may be totally absent. Their skin is the color their fur would be, and all the usual cat marking patterns may be found in Sphynx too.

Temperament[]

Sphynx are very gregarious and considered the most friendliest breed of cat. They are full of energy and curiosity but enjoy moments of affection with their owners and love attention. The Sphynx has dog like traits, such as being social around guests and greeting their owner/s at the door. The Sphynx is a highly intelligent breed of cat that needs stimulation and fun things to do. Sphynx get on well with most cats, but dislike Siamese cats.

Care[]

While Sphynx cats lack a coat to shed or groom, they are not maintenance-free. Body oils, which would normally be absorbed by the hair, tend to build up on the skin. As a result, regular cleaning (usually in the form of bathing) is necessary; one bath a week is usually sufficient.[1] Care should be taken to limit the Sphynx cat's exposure to outdoor sunlight at length, as they can develop sunburn and photo damage similar to that of humans. In general, Sphynx cats should never be allowed outdoors unattended, as they have limited means to conserve body heat when it is cold. Their curious nature can take them into dangerous places or situations.[2]

The Sphynx cat also appear to have more ear wax than most hairy domestic cats because they have little to no hair in their ears to catch and protect them from a build up of impurities in their ears, like dirt, skin oils (sebum), and ear wax which accumulates more frequently in the hairless sphynx breed. The Sphynx cats ears will need to be cleaned[3] on a weekly basis, usually before bath time. The Sphynx breed also tends to accumulate oils and debris under their nails as well as the skin fold above the nail due to the lack of fur, so, like the ears, the nails and surrounding skin folds need to be cleaned properly as well. This is generally done at bath time along with a weekly nail clipping.[4] The sphynx breed does require more grooming than a typical domestic cat with fur.

Health Issues[]

The Canadian Sphynx is recognized by cat fancy associations as being a healthy robust breed. Lack of hair can cause health issues with kittens in the first weeks of life due to susceptibility to respiratory infections. Reputable breeders will not let their kittens go to new homes without being at least 12 weeks of age to ensure the kitten is mature enough to cope in a new environment. The breed does have instances of the genetic disorder hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. Studies are being undertaken to understand the links in breeding and the disorder.[5] Sphynxes can catch common feline diseases and should be immunized in the same way as other breeds.

References[]

  1. CFA Sphynx Breed Profile. Cfainc.org (2010-07-04). Retrieved on 2010-10-26.
  2. Sphynx Cat Emergency. Sphynxcatblog.com. Retrieved on 2010-10-26.
  3. Cleaning Sphynx Cat's ears. Sphynxlair.com. Retrieved on 2010-10-26.
  4. Clipping your Sphynx cat nails. Sphynxlair.com. Retrieved on 2010-10-26.
  5. http://www.vetmed.wsu.edu/deptsvcgl/ResearchFeline.aspx
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